Railway-switch.



F. SMITH. RAILWAY SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 00T.18, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A WITNESSES Y IN VENTOR Ma F derw Sm ATTORNEY Patented Dec.5, 1911.

F. SMITH. RAILWAY SWITCH. uruoumn IILEDYOOI'. 1B, 1910.

Patented D0115, 1911.

2 BHBETS-SHEBT 2.

, INVENTOR fiadei'w Amway To all whom it may concern:

FREDERICK .SMITHgOF PHILADELPHIAgf PENNSYLVANIA.

, 'a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway-Switches, of which the following is a' specification.

. My. invention relates to a new and useful Ji o.

improvement in railway switches, andihas for-its object to provide a device of this character, in which .the trip lever may be mounted relatively near the switch point, said 'triplever remaining unset until the train-has entered the siding, and when set;

b may be operated vertically by each succeed- ;i'ng car oft-he train until the last car has passed the'switchpoint, after which should [the trip lever be operated the switch will be immediately .closed, thus preventing any imishap to a through train should the switch have been left open by negligence.

5 QAh ther-Objectofthe invention is topro- ..vide means for'holdi'ng the switch point nlevsr. I

' point either open or closed, thus preventing open while the train is passing into the siding, and having means in cenjunction .wlth

Ithe first named means for setting the trip to provide a-means for locking theswitch I tampering by unauthorized persons.

With these ends in view, this invention I. consists inthe details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter .set

forth and then specifically designated which this invention .appert-ains may understand how to make and use the same, I will 1 describe its constructionin detail, referring ,by letter to the accompanying drawing forming apart of this specification, in which- Y I Figure 1 is a plan view of a track showing a'siding leadingtherefrom and having my improved switch applied thereto. Fig. 2,

a. section at the line w s of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, minor parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3, a side elevation of the track show ng portions of theswitch mechanism broken away to clearly illustrate the construction, and Fig.

Railway-summon.

.A'still. further object of the invention is Patented Dec. 119M.

4:, a side elevation. of that side of the track from which runs the siding.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the main track, B the siding and. C the switch point. 4 To the switch point beneath the same is secured a.

tube D by means of a screw E or its equivalent, so that as said tube is operated the switchpoint will move with it in the same dlrection for opening and closing the switch. In the tube'D is mounted a helical spring F, it being coiled about the rod G, one end resting upon the head H of said rod, the other end against the tlange Iv of the tube.-

This rod is fastened to a bracket J, or some other immovableportion of the switch by the nuts K; 'the spring F is so situated that when the switch point is opened, said spring is compressed between the end of the tube and the. end of the rod, and when the switch point is released the spring will expand,

thus closing the switch.

Upon one end of the tube D- is mounted the casingL, having a vertical opening M and a horizontal openingN. In the vertical opening is mounted the sliding rod 0, hava ing a foot P,'a portion of which'is beveled, as at Q, for a purpose to be hereinafter descr ibed. Said rod 0. is provided with a horizontal opening R and has its upper end threaded as at S, onwhich is mounted the weight T for normally holding fthe rod 0 downward. Y

U is a switch lever pivoted to the bracket V and to the former is pivoted the linkW, one end of which'is pivoted to the switch rod Y, said switch rodhaving a notch. Z therein and having its free end beveled as at A. This switch rod may pass through a suitable bracket B, then through the openingsN and R in the casing L and the rod 0 respectively.. The end of this switch rod rests within the tube D and when moved toward the switch point, its beveled end will .pass into the opening C in the pin D which pin is mounted within the tube D and passes through an opening (1-) in the under side of said tube, thus raising said pin and disengaging it from the opening F in the stationary block or bracket g, and when this pin D is 1 disengaged 'from the opening F, the vswitch pointwill be unlocked and again be operated.

The pin D being longer than the inside height of the tube .1), or of such length that it will not operate Within the tube it is necessary to form an 0 ening 2 in the top of the tubeto' permit said pin D to pass therethrough, and in order to prevent outside in-- terference with said pin I provide a cap E which covers the opening 2 and is secured to the tube. As said cap is at one time upon one side of the rail A and at another time upon the opposite side, an opening 3 is formed in said rail to permit said cap to pass from one side to the other.

From the foregoing description it will be seen, that by turning the handle end of the switch lever U over toward the switch oint, it being understood that the switch is c osed, the switch rod Y will be moved inward with relation to the tube D, the beveled end thereof disengaging the pin D from the opening F unlocking the switch point, since said switch point' is fastened to the tube D, at the same time the notch Z in the switch rod Y will be brought into alinement with the rod 0, and as the notch Z is of greater Width than the rod 0, said rod will drop into the notch because of the weight T. When in this position the, switch lever U is operated in the opposite direction, which will draw the switch rod U outward,and as the rod 0 is in engagement with said switch rod, and said rod 0 is mounted in the casing L, which is mounted upon the tube D,- these last named parts will be drawn outward, thus opening the switch, since said switch is securely fastened to the tube D. By this action the spring F will be compressed and when the tube is released, as will be hereinafter described, said spring will expand, and close the switch.

G denotes aholding member, which is a long strip of metal conforming with the curvature of the siding and is mounted adjacent one of the rails on the outside thereof, and is sutiiciently removed from said rail at the switch point to prevent it from being engaged by the wheels of trains using only the" main track. Said holding member is pivoted to the links H at I and these links are pivoted to some stationary brackets J at K. These links are so placed that as the holding member G moves downward it will move slightly horizontally. Said holding member is normally held upward by'a spring L mounted in the base tube M placed beside the track and over which telescopes the cap tube N, which is pivoted to the holdingmember G, at O. Said holding member is limited in its movement at one end by the hide and stop P. The holding member a is produced sufficiently wide at Q, to cause it to rest behind the end of the tube D when said member is moved downward, and when in-this position, should the switch be released the tube will be prevented ft'om moving, causing the switch to remain open until the holding member G is released, and when this is released the train has passed beyond the switch point.

Passing beneath the tracks is the rod R, having the end which is adjacent the casing L bent at right angles to the body of the rod, as at S, and this extension normally rests in a vertical position. On the opposite end of said rod R is securely mounted the arm T, which is provided with a slot U, and in this slot operates the pin V mounted upon the sliding member G, so

that with any downward movement of the holding member G the rod R will be rotated, causing the extension S to be moved toward the casing L, causing the catch W to pass beneath the foot P. This catch is provided with a noseX andhas afinger Y produced from one side, with which engages the extension S to force the 'nose X of the catch beneath the foot P. This catch is pivoted at Z to a rod A which is journaled in the bracket 13*. On the opposite end of this rod is mounted the arm C to the upper end of which is connected the cable D or its equivalent, said cable being fastened at E to the trip lever F uivc ed at G beside one of the rails at some suitable distance from the switch point.

From this description it will be seen that when the switch is opened the catch V is out of engagement with the foot P, therefore the trip lever F is unset or rests below the surface of the rail. Since the switch will not be opened unless the siding is to be used, it is unnecessary to set the trip lever until the train has passed into the siding, and in so doing the holding member G will be pressed downward, causing the arm T to rotate the rod R, whose extension S will engage the finger Y of the catch VVQforcing the nose X of said catch beneath the foot P of the rod 0, but because of the weight T and the friction between the rod 0 and the switch rod Y, said rod 0 will not be disengaged from the'switch rod Y, as the nose of the catch passes beneath the foot P, the free end of said catch will be moved downward, rotating the rod A which through the medium of the arm C of the cable D will set the trip lever F and if the train is long enough to extend back over the trip lever F the wheels of the last cars.

ber is of suthcient length so that a wheel rests upon the same, at all times said holdthat h z-netheraler e Y, this balding F "set; If the switch point is leftopen after the train has passed into the siding and a through train is passing, the wheels thereofwill engage the trip lever F depressing the same, a ndvthrough the medium' of the cable ,D'? and the arm C will rotate therod A lifting the nose X of the catch W ,which'Will lift the foot P and the rod f: O," disengaging the same from the notch C through train pass'while the other train' ison the siding, then as said train passes from.

the exact details "of construction here shown,-

in'theswitch rod 'Y. At this point the spring F will be allowed to expand, moving the tube D to close'the" switch, thus permitting the through train to pass safely. vAs

' the switch is closed, the tube D slides in the bracket g, and when the pin D alines with the opening F it will drop therein, securely locking the switch point. Should any the siding to the main track it will first engage the holding member G to prevent the closing. of the switch until afterthe last car has passed through the switch, then as said' holding; member G is released, with the next movement of the trip lever F the switch will be closed behind the train.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to as these may be varied Within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofmy invention. I

,Having thus fully. described my invention,

' what I claim as new and useful, is 1.'In a railway switch the combination with the railway tracks andthe switch point thereof, a horizontal tube movable from side' to side and attached to the switch point, a

casing having a horizontal. opening and a vertical opening, said casing attached to one end of the.tube, a rod havingan openmg therethrough mounted in the vertical opening in the casing, a weight mounted on top of said rod, means passing through the horizontal opening in the casing and the opening'in the rod for engagement with said rod-to draw the tube to one side for opening the switch and resilient means for drawing the tube to the opposite side thus closing the switch when the rod and the openingrheans are disengaged '2. In a railwayswitch' the combination with .therailway tracks and the switch point thereof, a horizontal tubemovable from side to side and attachedto the switch point, .a casing-having a horizontal opening and avertical. opening said casing attached offthetube D, pre-j ent -of said tube andlikewise the switchpoint, then after-[the last car: @has passed over the trip lever, the weight T "oi again engage the] to end oi theitube, arod having an opening therethi oi gh mounted in the vertic'al opening in thecasing, a 'weight mounted "on top "of said rod, a means passing vthrough the horizontal opening in thecasing and the opening in the mater engagement with said r v p i I rod to draw thetube to one side for opening the switchopen',butfhaving the trip lever theswitch-means for disengaging the vertical rod from the switch, throwing means and means for'drawing the tube in the op- -pos:te directlon when said disengagement takes place.

3; In a railway switch the combination with the railway tracks and the switch point thereof, a horizontal tube movable (from side-to side and attached to the switch point, a casing having 'a horizontal opening and a vertical open ng, said casing attached to one end of the tube, a'rod having an opening therethrough mounted in the vertical opening of said casing, a weight mounted on top of, said rod, means passing through the horizontal opening in the easing and theopening in the rod-forengagement with'said rod to draw thetubo to one side for opening the switch, means for disengaging the vertical rod from the switch throwing means, a stationary rod having a head, a portion of said rod extending into the tube and a spring coiled about said rod oneend resting against the head and the opposite end against a portion of the tube said spring acting to-draw the tube in the opposite direction for closing the switch when the vertical rod is disengaged from the throwing mechanism.

4r. In a railway switch the combination with the railway tracks and the switch point thereof, a horizontal tube movable" from side to side and attached to the switch point, a casing having a horizontal o ening and a vertlcal opening, saidcasing attached to one end of the tube, a rod having. an

opening therethrough mounted in the vertical opening of [said casing, a weight mounted on top of said rod, means passing through the horizontal opening in the easing and the opening in the rod for engage- -ment with said rod to draw the tube to one' side for opening the switch, means for disengaging'the vertical rod from the switch, throwing means, a stationary rod having a head, a portion of said rod extending into the tube and means for locking the tube when the switch is closed. i

5. In a railway switch the combination with the main tracks and the switch point thereof, a horizontalslidable tube attached to the switch point, a casing mounted on one end of said tube, a vertical rod .s-lidablymounted in said casing, a weight carried by said rod,-"a switch rod passing through the casing and the vertical rod adapted to engage "the first named rod,-

1 one end of said tube, a vertical rod slidably mounted. in said" 'op'ening, a foot formed crating the switch rod to open the switch s head formed therewith passing into thetube,

means for operating the switch rod, to open the switch point and. means for engagmg. one end of the tube for holding the switch point while a trainis passing into the siding.

,6. In a railway switch the combination thereof, a horizontal slidable tube attached as the switch point, a casing mounted onmounted in said casing, a weight carried by said rod, a switch rod passing through,

the casing and the vertical rod adapted to engage the first named rod, means for oppoint,resilient means engaging the tube for closing'the switch point and means mounted beside the track and engaging one end of the tube in its downward movement for holding the switchrpoint open when a train is passing into the siding.

In combination with themain track and 'the switch point thereof, of a bracket mounted beneath the track, a tube having a flange formed with one end, slidably mounted upon said bracket and attached to the switch point, a stationary rodhaving a head formed therewith passing into the tube, a spring coiled about said rod, one end rest ing against the head the opposite end against the flange, said spring adapted to normally hold the. switch point closed, a casing-mounted upon the opposite end of the tube, said casing having a vertical and a horizontal opening t-herethrough, a vertical rod having an opening therethrough with said rod h avlng a beveled edge, a weight carried by -the upper end of said rod, a switch rod having a notch therein passing through the horizontal opening in the casing and the opening in the first named rod said first named rod adapted to engage the notch in the switch rod when the switch rod is moved into the tube, a switch lever, a link connecting said switch lever 'qswiteh rod and likewise the switch point, means for disengaging the vertical rod in the casing from the switch rod and means engaging the tube' for holding the switch point open when the vertical rod is disengaged from the switch rod while a train is passing into the siding.

8. In combination with the main track and the switch point thereof, of, a bracket mounted beneath the track, a tube having a flange formed with one end, slidably mounted upon said bracket and attached to the switch point, a stationary rod having a a? spring coiled about said rod one-end restingagainst the head the opposite end against the.flange,said spring adapted tonormally hold the'switch point closed, a casing mounted upon the opposite end'of the tube, said casing having a vertical and a horizontal opening therethrough,'a vertical rod having an opening therethrough, a foot formed with rod having a beveled edge, a weight carried by the upper end of said rod, a switch rod having a notch therein and hav ing its inner .end beveled, said rod passing through the opening in the casing and the opening in thevertical rod into the tube, a switch lever, a link for connecting said switch lever with the switch rod, a pin having an opening therein, passing through the tube and-engaging the bracket beneath the tube when the switch point is closed, the beveled end of the switch rod adapted to pass through the opening in said pin for raising said'pin and a trip lever, said trip lever remaining unset when the switch is opened to let the train pass to the siding.

9. In a combination with the main track and the switch point thereof, of a bracket mounted beneath the track, a tube having a flange formed with one end, slidably mounted upon said bracket and attached to the swifih point, a stationary rod having a head formed therewith passing into the tube, a spring coiled about said rod one end resting against the head and the opposite 'end against the flange, said spring adapted to norin'ally hold the switch point closed, a casing mounted upon the opposite end of the tube, said casing having a vertical and a horizontal opening therethrough, a vertical rod having an opening therethrougl1,mounted in said casing, a foot formed with said rod having a beveled edge, a weight carried by the upper end of said rod, a switch rod having a notch therein and having its inner end beveled, said rod passing through the opening in the casing, and the opening in the vertical rod into the tube, a switch lever, a link for connecting said switch lever with switchrod, a pin having an opening therein passing through the tube and engagingthe bracket beneath the tube when the switch point is closed, the beveled end of the switch rod adapted to pass through the opening in said pin for raising said pin, a bracket, a rod journaled therein, a catch pivoted to one end of saidrod adapted to engage the foot of thevertical rod, a trip lever, a cable connecting the trip lever with the rod and means for forcing the catch beneath the foot of the vertical rod, thus head formed therewith passing into the tube, a spring coiledabout saidf-rod one-end resting against the head the oppositeaend against the flange, said spring adapted to normally hold the switch point closed, acasing mounted upon the opposite end of the tube, said casing havinga vertical and a horizontal opening therethrough mounted in said casing, a foot formed with said rod having a beveled edge, a weight carried by the upper end of said rod, a switch rod having a notch therein and having the inner end beveled, said= rod passing through the opening in the casing and the opening inthe vertical rod into the tube, a switch lever, a link for connecting said switch lever with the switch rod, a pin having an opening therein passing through the tube and engaging the bracket beneath the tube when 1 the switch point is closed, the beveled end of the switch rod-adapted to pass through the opening in said pin for raising said pin,

a bracket, a rod 'journaled therein a catch having a nose and a finge'r formed there-. with pivoted to saidrod, an arm secured to the opposite end of said rod, a trip lever pivoted beside the track, a desirable distance from the switch point,-a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm and means for forcing the catch beneath the foot of-the vertical rod thus setting the trip lever. 11. In combination with the main track and the switch point thereof, of a bracket mounted beneath the track, a tube having a flange formed with one end slidably mount- .ed upon said bracket and attached to the switch point, a stationary rod having a head formed therewith passing into the tube, a spring coiled about said rod oneend resting against the head and the opposite end against the flange, said spring adapted to normally hold the switch point closed, a casing mounted upon the opposite end of the tube, said casing having a vertical and a horizontal-opening.therethrough, a vertical rod having an opening therethrough mounted in said casing, a foot formed with said rod having a beveled edge, a weight carried by the upper end of said rod, a switch rod having a notch therein and having its ins ner end beveled said switch rod passing through opening in the casing and the openingin the vertical rod into the tube, a

switch lever, a link for connecting said switch lever with the switch rod, a pin having an openingpassing through the tube 'and engaging the bracket beneath the tube when the switch point is closed, the beveledend of the switch rod adapted to pass through the opening in said'pin for raising said pin, a bracket, a rod journaled therein,

"-' .a catch having a nose and a finger formed therewith pivoted to said rod, an arm se-.

cured to the opposite end of said rod,:a trip lever pivoted beside the 'track a (is:

fill

sirable distance from the; switch 'point,ra cable for connecting said trip leverwith the arm, a holding member mounted beside the track leading to the siding, resilient means for normally holding'said member upward, an L shaped rod passing beneath the track and engaging the catch for forcing the lattercbeneath the foot of the rod to set the trip lever and means for con necting the holding member and said rod.

12. In a combination with the main track and'the switch point thereof of a bracket mounted beneath the track, a tube having a flange formed with one end slidably mounted upon said bracket and attached to the switch point, a stationary rod having a head. formed therewith passinginto the end against the flange, said spring adapted to normally hold the switch point closed, a casing mounted upon the opposite end of the tube, saidcasing having a vertical and a horizontal opening therethrough, a vertical rod having an opening therethrough mounted in said casing, a foot-formed with said rod having a beveled edge, aweight carried "by the upper endof said rod, a switch rod having a notch therein and having the innerend beveled, said switch rod passing through opening in the casing and the opening in the vertical rod into the tube, a switch lever, a linkfor connecting said switch lever with the switch rod, a pin having an opening passing through the tube and engaging the bracket-beneath the tube when the switch point is closed, the beveled end of the switch rod adapted to pass through the opening in said pin for raising said pin, a bracket, a rod journaled therein, a catch having a nose and a finger formed therewith pivoted to said rod, an arm secured to-the opposite end of said rod, a trip lever pivoted' beside the track a desirable distance from the switch point, a

cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm, a holding member adapted to lie adjacent to the track,'brackets, links pivoted to said brackets and to the holding member,

'a guide and stop mounted at one end of said holding member, a rod having one'end bent at right angles to form an extension, said extension engaging the finger of the catch, an arm secured to said rod, said arm having a slot therein, a pin carried by the holding member and registering with the slot so that with the downward movement of the holding member the rod will be rotated causing the catch to be forced-beneath the footof the vertical rod to set'the trip lever, said trip leverv when pressed downward adapted to raise the catch, thus disengaging the rod 'in the casing from the switch. rod allowing'the switch point tobe closed by the action of the coiled spring, a In testimony whereof, I have hereunto base tube mounted beneath the holding aflixed my signature in the presence of two member, a cap tube telescoping upon the subscribing witnesses.

base tube said cap tube being pivoted to FREDERICK SMITH. 5 the holding member and a spring mounted Witnesses: v

within said tubes for normally forcing them HARRY HOBDELL, v

apart. MORRIS L. KOLB. 

